PEAK EXPIRATORY FLOW RATE;

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the effects of cotton dust on the peak expiratory flow of cotton mill workers in comparison with thehealthy controls who never exposure to the cotton dust. Setting: Outpatient Department of Pulmonology, Nishtar Hospital, Multan.Period: August 2011 to March 2012. Material and methods: A total of 200 male subjects (100 healthy controls and 100 cotton millworkers) who strictly met the inclusion criteria were selected from the OPD. Results: The peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) (L/min) ofcotton mill workers was significantly lower as compared to the control subjects and this impairment was directly proportional to theduration of exposure to the cotton dust in the mail. Conclusions: It was concluded from the study that the peak expiratory flow rate wasdecreased in the cotton mill workers.